Taiwan winter is upon us once again
and, for those of you who have not yet experienced one,
the rumour is true: it gets COLD. I'm not talking about
the minus 20 degree Celsius weather I was used to back
in Toronto. No, no-in Taiwan the mercury rarely dips
below 12 Celsius, but the problem is that it's a wet
cold, making it that much more unbearable.

During the winter, it's very important
to take care of the body's biggest organ--the skin.
In the summer, everyone knows SPF is key, but what do
you do in the winter? Considering Taiwan's urban pollution,
your best bet is to cleanse and moisturize, particularly
if you are exposed to the outside smog that contains
particles of dirt, exhaust fumes and contaminants all
ready to clog as many of your pores as possible.
If you tend to have dry skin, opt for a milky or creamy
cleanser. These tend to contain more moisturizing agents
and won't leave your skin feeling "pulled".
However, most people in this country probably don't
encounter dry skin very often, in which case they should
use light, foaming cleansers as these won't strip your
face of moisture, but won't weigh it down either. Taking
into account the wintry humidity in Taiwan's subtropical
environment, it will suffice to say that heavy moisturizers
are not necessary. Instead, try a water-based, quick-absorbing
lotion. These products are less liable to make you feel
like you've slathered on cooking oil (unless, of course,
you like that).

Of course, if you find yourself exposed
to the sun, it's still a good idea to slap on some SPF,
perhaps not the 1000 proof you use in the summer, but
a slightly more moderate number, say SPF15. And this
advice goes the same for men and women. Take this chance
to save your own skin-it'll thank you in the end.